Jessica Crabtree

Sunny, lively, energetic, whimsical – what color comes to mind? Yellow, of course. It’s one of the three primary colors, and no other seems to match its effervescent vibrancy.

The oldest and most widespread use of yellow in art dates back many millennia to pigments derived from yellow ochre. More recently, many yellow pigments traditionally used by artists were made with highly toxic ingredients such as cadmium, arsenic, and antimony. In modern times yellow paints and chalks are still made from natural sources such as ochres, but with safer synthetic compounds replacing most of the heavy metals.

Yellow is a color with a demanding “type A” personality; while it’s never heavy, it is highly stimulating – so use it in moderation. On account of its vibrancy, it pairs best with colors having no chroma – that is, black or white. It is also complemented by violet, its opposite.

National Geographic Photo Gallery: Life in Color – YELLOW